BILL NUMBER: SCR 45	CHAPTERED  09/28/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   143
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 28, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 10, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   SEPTEMBER 3, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Karnette, Kelley, and Polanco
   (Coauthor:  Senator Alpert)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Battin, Firebaugh, and Zettel)

                        JULY 15, 1999

   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 45--Relative to the Interagency
Task Force on the Economic Development of the California-Mexico
Border.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 45, Karnette.  Interagency Task Force on the Economic
Development of the California-Mexico Border.
   This measure would request the Governor to immediately establish
an Interagency Task Force on the Economic Development of the
California-Mexico Border, to comprise specified heads of state
agencies.  It would request the task force to perform specified
duties and make reports to the Governor and the Legislature with
respect to coordinating and promoting the federal administration's
efforts for sustainable development along the California-Mexico
border.  It would provide that the task force shall terminate 30 days
after submitting its final report due on July 15, 2002, unless a
task force consensus recommends continuation of its activities.




   WHEREAS, On May 25, 1999, the President of the United States
issued an Executive order establishing an Interagency Task Force on
the Economic Development of the Southwest Border, reporting to the
Vice President and comprising various federal agencies for purposes
of coordinating existing administration efforts to enhance economic
development in the southwest border region; and
   WHEREAS, Governor Gray Davis has established a public policy
priority of increasing trade opportunities between California and
Mexico; and
   WHEREAS, A successful trade initiative will require an effective
strategic implementation that must include infrastructure, economic
development, education, workforce development, environment, and
health; and
   WHEREAS, The North American Free Trade Agreement offers new and
emerging opportunities for trade and commerce between California and
Mexico as well as other nations within the Americas; and
   WHEREAS, According to the Baja California government, Maquiladora
operations along the United States-Mexico border imported $10.7
billion in goods and services during the 1997-98 fiscal year,
representing significant business opportunities for California
companies; and
   WHEREAS, As of June 1999, unemployment in the Imperial Valley
region has reached as high as 32 percent, compared to a statewide
unemployment rate of 5.4 percent; and
   WHEREAS, The Imperial Valley as well as other regions across the
state would be beneficially impacted through a sustained economic
development initiative along the California-Mexico border; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
hereby requests the Governor to immediately establish an Interagency
Task Force on the Economic Development of the California-Mexico
Border; and be it further
   Resolved, That the task force shall comprise the Lieutenant
Governor, the President pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the
Assembly, the Secretary of State, the Treasurer, the Attorney
General, the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, the Secretary of
Business, Transportation and Housing, the Secretary of Environmental
Protection, the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services
Agency, the Secretary of State and Consumer Services, the Secretary
of Trade and Commerce, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the
President of the University of California, the Chancellor of the
California State University, and the Chancellor of the California
Community Colleges; and be it further
   Resolved, That the purpose of the task force shall be to
coordinate and promote the federal administration's efforts for
sustainable development along the California-Mexico border, in
concert with locally led efforts, in order to increase the living
standards and overall economic profile of the California-Mexico
border region so that it may achieve, at a minimum, the national
median standard of living; and be it further
   Resolved, That task force efforts may include, but need not be
limited to, all of the following:
   (a) Analyzing the existing programs and policies of task force
member agencies that relate to the California-Mexico border region to
determine what changes, modifications, and innovations should be
considered.
   (b) Considering statistical and data analysis, research, and
policy studies related to the California-Mexico border.
   (c) Developing and recommending short-term and long-term options
for promoting sustainable economic development.
   (d) Consulting and coordinating border development activities
among state, tribal, and local governments and community leaders,
Members of the Legislature, the private sector, and other interested
parties.
   (e) Coordinating and collaborating on research and development
activities of task force member agencies related to the
California-Mexico border.
   (f) Integrating the federal administration's initiatives and
programs into an effective sustainable economic development strategy
for the California-Mexico border.
   (g) Focusing initial efforts for implementing a coordinated and
expedited state response to local economic development needs by
focusing on local and regional planning efforts; and be it further
   Resolved, That the task force is requested to issue an interim
report to the Governor and the Legislature by January 15, 2000.  The
task force is also requested to issue its first annual report to the
Governor and the Legislature by July 15, 2000, a subsequent report by
July 15, 2001, and a final report by July 15, 2002.  Each report
should describe the actions taken by, and progress of, each member
agency of the task force in carrying out the duties of the task
force.  The task force shall terminate 30 days after submitting its
final report unless a task force consensus recommends continuation of
its activities; and be it further
   Resolved, That the agencies represented on the task force are
requested to work together and report their actions and progress in
carrying out the duties of the task force to the Commission on the
Californias one month before the reports are due to the Governor and
the Legislature; and be it further
   Resolved, That all efforts taken by agencies in accordance with
this resolution shall, as appropriate, further partnerships and
cooperation with organizations that represent the California-Mexico
border and affected local governments; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary
of State, the Treasurer, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Food
and Agriculture, the Secretary of Business, Transportation and
Housing, the Secretary of Environmental Protection, the Secretary of
the California Health and Human Services Agency, the Secretary of
State and Consumer Services, the Secretary of Trade and Commerce, the
Superintendent of Public Instruction, the President of the
University of California, the Chancellor of the California State
University, and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
